News Analysis India

Tag: Sikkim CM

  • Sikkim government to provide Rs 20,000 each to all non-working mothers: CM Prem Singh Tamang

    By PTI

    GANGTOK: The Sikkim government will give Rs 20,000 each to all non-working mothers and free sanitary napkins to all girl students of class 9 and above in the state, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has said.

    Addressing a function at Melli on Friday, the CM announced that the state government will implement the ‘Aama Yojna’ for non-working mothers and Bahini scheme for girl students.

    Under the ‘Aama Yojna’ scheme all non-working mothers in the state will receive Rs 20,000 each annually in their bank accounts, Tamang said, adding that only those whose names are in the electoral roll of the state will get the money.

    He said the scheme will be implemented from this year and all the required formalities for the efficient implementation of the scheme was under process.

    The CM said a sum of Rs 100 crore has been earmarked in the budget for the scheme and hoped that it will inculcate the habit of saving among non-working mothers.

    In the ‘Bahini’ scheme the state government will provide free sanitary napkins to girl students studying in class 9 and above.

    Over 18,000 girl students study in class 9 and above in the state.

    The state government also plans to establish sanitary napkin vending machines in schools and also increase awareness and sensitisation programmes about menstrual health and hygiene, he added.

  • Sikkim sees record tourist footfall, CM Prem Singh Tamang urges people not to travel amid landslides

    By PTI

    GANGTOK: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Thursday urged the people not to travel in view of the landslides as the state registered a record tourist footfall during the Durga puja vacation.

    Over 22,000 domestic tourists and 651 foreign travellers visited the state over the last week, Tourism Department officials said.

    An average of 5,000 tourists are entering Sikkim daily at present, they said, adding that it would soon double.

    The surge was recorded after the state government withdrew all COVID-related restrictions and reopened its borders.

    The government took several measures to encourage tourism this festive season to make up for the financial hit it took last year.

    The two-month lockdown during the peak season last year caused an estimated loss of Rs 500-700 crore, officials said.

    Nearly a quarter of the state’s population is dependent on tourism, which generates annual revenue of Rs 4,000-5,000 crore, they said.

    However, as landslides hit the state over the last three days, cutting road connectivity to several places, the chief minister urged people to avoid travelling.

    “In the past couple of days, Sikkim has witnessed incessant rainfall, leading to landslides in several parts of the state, causing roadblocks at multiple spots.

    I am in constant touch with the line departments and closely monitoring the current situation,” Tamang said.

    “In order to avoid any untoward incident, I appeal to all our citizens to refrain from travelling in these circumstances, and pray for their safety,” he added.

    Sikkim’s lifeline National Highway 10 is at present blocked with kilometre-long traffic waiting for the road to be cleared, officials said.

    Vehicles are being diverted through narrower and longer alternate routes at present, they said.

    The rains have caused severe damage to crops with paddy plantations destroyed in several parts of the state, officials said.